Cyclone leaves 28 Altai settlements without electricity

GORNO-ALTAISK, January 24 (Itar-Tass) – Twenty-eight settlements with the population of about 5,000 people are still cut off from electricity because of the cyclone bringing wet snow, rain and gale-force winds to the Altai region, the press service of the regional administration reports on Thursday.

Unfavorable weather conditions cause wire breakage of power transmission lines, it said. On Wednesday electricity was cut off to over 200 settlements with the population of more than 20,000 people. Repair brigades restored electricity supply to 184 settlements overnight to Thursday. Repair efforts continue, but strong winds with wet snow and rain cause new problems with electricity supply. Twenty repair teams assisted by 34 units of hardware continue working in the region.

Region’s Altaienergo electricity campaign operates in an emergency mode in close cooperation with the regional administration, municipalities, the emergencies ministry and the Main Power Transmission Lines of Siberia. Meanwhile, weathermen say weather conditions won’t improve shortly.